PR Dept as Doctrinal/Policy Gatekeepers

[turinturambar]

Why is it that we finally hear a definitive statement on the WoW caffeine issue from the Church’s PR department (ostensibly for outsiders), rather than something over the podium from a church leader (for insiders)?

I find the process disturbing.

[Brian Johnston]

Because large corporations always manage their public image by running important policy statements through their legal and PR departments.

Religions tends to have a priest or prophet that makes bold, unapologetic declarations about what is right and wrong to the world directly.

[turinturambar]

So I guess the “StayLDS” question is:

When the idealist in me wants the Church to act like a religion, how do I make peace with its corporate behavior?

[SilentDawning]

Where can I read about the clarification on caffeine drinks? Is this recent?

[Old-Timer]

I don’t want the top leadership sending out messages to be read from the pulpit about silly little things like this – or have them addressed in General Conference explicitly. Pres. Uchtdorf telling us to stop obsessing over cultural details equals teaching principles. That’s all I want. I like that the Church is moving away from pulpit announcements about everything.

Otoh, I have no problem with the Church using a PR Department to craft statements that, hopefully, will say things the right way for non-believers. We don’t tend to be very good at that, and I’d rather have something phrased in common-speak than Mormonese for an “outside” audience.

[SilentDawning]

turinturambar wrote:

So I guess the “StayLDS” question is:

When the idealist in me wants the Church to act like a religion, how do I make peace with its corporate behavior?

The idealist focuses his idealism on his personal character, and developing tolerance for the corporation. While at the same time altering his relationship with the corporation. Reframe the relationship as volunteer-corporation rather than member-church. That will likely shift a lot of behavior and priorities in your life, as well as expectations.

[turinturambar]

SilentDawning wrote:

Where can I read about the clarification on caffeine drinks? Is this recent?

http://www.mormonnewsroom.org/article/mormonism-news–getting-it-right-august-29?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+LDSNewsRoomTop15+%28RSS%3A+LDS+Newsroom%29

It’s down the page a ways.

[turinturambar]

Old-Timer wrote:

I don’t want the top leadership sending out messages to be read from the pulpit about silly little things like this – or have them addressed in General Conference explicitly. Pres. Uchtdorf telling us to stop obsessing over cultural details equals teaching principles. That’s all I want. I like that the Church is moving away from pulpit announcements about everything.

Can you provide the E Uchtdorf quote (or quotes)?

I agree about calling this a “silly little thing”. However, when “silly little things” are being made into yardsticks to measure other members’ faithfulness, I think this a problem that should be addressed. And not just once. Continually and unambiguously until the culture changes. These yardsticks are preventing us from becoming Zion.

BTW: In some ways, this is a “silly BIG thing.” Have you followed the BYU goings on about this statement? BYU does not allow caffeinated drinks to be sold on campus, including the MTC. I think the fallout from this is that BYU will probably change this policy now. This seems to be the second time that a statement by the PR department has caused a massive shift in the thinking/behavior of the members of the church (the first being the press releases around the Randy Bott debacle). I’d much rather have these things handled internally before the are handled externally by a PR department…Ugh…..

[turinturambar]

SilentDawning wrote:

The idealist focuses his idealism on his personal character, and developing tolerance for the corporation. While at the same time altering his relationship with the corporation. Reframe the relationship as volunteer-corporation rather than member-church. That will likely shift a lot of behavior and priorities in your life, as well as expectations.

I am anti-corporate, and even anti-capitalist. I don’t want to be a volunteer for a corporation. I want to be a disciple of Christ. I want to be an acolyte for a holy mystery. I want to be a priest in a kingdom of priests. I want to be swept up in something deeply moving and spiritual. And lately, I’m not getting those things from the Church. It makes me sad.

[Old-Timer]

turinturambar, I am providing links to four recent talks by President Uchtdorf:

“The Love of God” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/the-love-of-god?lang=eng&query=%22uchtdorf%22+%28name%3a%22Dieter+F.+Uchtdorf%22%29) – 2009 [The one I referenced in my comment]

“Christ-Like Attributes” – The Wind Beneath Our Wings” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/christlike-attributes-the-wind-beneath-our-wings?lang=eng&query=%22culture%22+%22uchtdorf%22+%28name%3a%22Dieter+F.+Uchtdorf%22%29)

“Of Things that Matter Most” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng)

“The Merciful Obtain Mercy” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng&query=%22sin+differently%22)

I really love that man.

[turinturambar]

Old-Timer wrote:

turinturambar, I am providing links to four recent talks by President Uchtdorf:

“The Love of God” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/the-love-of-god?lang=eng&query=%22uchtdorf%22+%28name%3a%22Dieter+F.+Uchtdorf%22%29) – 2009 [The one I referenced in my comment]

“Christ-Like Attributes” – The Wind Beneath Our Wings” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/christlike-attributes-the-wind-beneath-our-wings?lang=eng&query=%22culture%22+%22uchtdorf%22+%28name%3a%22Dieter+F.+Uchtdorf%22%29)

“Of Things that Matter Most” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng)

“The Merciful Obtain Mercy” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng&query=%22sin+differently%22)

I really love that man.

Thanks. I’ll get reading. I really love him, too.

[Forgotten_Charity]

Old-Timer wrote:

turinturambar, I am providing links to four recent talks by President Uchtdorf:

“The Love of God” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2009/10/the-love-of-god?lang=eng&query=%22uchtdorf%22+%28name%3a%22Dieter+F.+Uchtdorf%22%29) – 2009 [The one I referenced in my comment]

“Christ-Like Attributes” – The Wind Beneath Our Wings” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2005/10/christlike-attributes-the-wind-beneath-our-wings?lang=eng&query=%22culture%22+%22uchtdorf%22+%28name%3a%22Dieter+F.+Uchtdorf%22%29)

“Of Things that Matter Most” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2010/10/of-things-that-matter-most?lang=eng)

“The Merciful Obtain Mercy” (http://www.lds.org/general-conference/2012/04/the-merciful-obtain-mercy?lang=eng&query=%22sin+differently%22)

I really love that man.

Thank you Ray. I’m really trying to read more positive articles.

[SilentDawning]

turinturambar wrote:

SilentDawning wrote:

The idealist focuses his idealism on his personal character, and developing tolerance for the corporation. While at the same time altering his relationship with the corporation. Reframe the relationship as volunteer-corporation rather than member-church. That will likely shift a lot of behavior and priorities in your life, as well as expectations.

I am anti-corporate, and even anti-capitalist. I don’t want to be a volunteer for a corporation. I want to be a disciple of Christ. I want to be an acolyte for a holy mystery. I want to be a priest in a kingdom of priests. I want to be swept up in something deeply moving and spiritual. And lately, I’m not getting those things from the Church. It makes me sad.

It makes me sad, testimony-barren sometimes, and occasionally, a bit depressed, but I don’t see the awe-inspiringness anymore…not when the chips are down. The church appears to act corporate whenever its own interests are up against the individual members. Just my take though. Perhaps others can help you restore its place as an inspiring divine organization.

But perhaps others have found a better way…that was beaten out of my long ago. But I am happier now that I see the church less of an awe-inspiring, moving entity.

[turinturambar]

SilentDawning wrote:

It makes me sad, testimony-barren sometimes, and occasionally, a bit depressed, but I don’t see the awe-inspiringness anymore…not when the chips are down. The church appears to act corporate whenever its own interests are up against the individual members. Just my take though. Perhaps others can help you restore its place as an inspiring divine organization.

But perhaps others have found a better way…that was beaten out of my long ago. But I am happier now that I see the church less of an awe-inspiring, moving entity.

Maybe this is the core of my StayLDS issues. I just can’t see myself devoting three hours on a Sunday to volunteer for a corporation. I feel like I took a covenant to consecrate for the building of Zion, and I need to see an organization that is focused on building Zion for me to be passionate about consecration again. And that includes going to Church, and serving in my EQP.

[SilentDawning]

I look at other things now to motivate me:

a) Keeping my wife happy and my marriage together

b) Giving my children a consistent religious experience; changing now would confuse them

c) Working alongside good people

d) Character-building opportunities

e) Correcting cultural norms that perhaps people don’t think about deeply

and recognizing that i would probably find corporate kinds of problems in other churches too….

Ultimately, all organizations are man-made, it seems…and if they aren’t, they are executed by men who make mistakes.

What really matters is the individual’s spirituality…

[Author]

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